Calculating-machine



C. BIRTH.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I3, 1919 1,386,758. Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

- 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES C. BIRTH.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man OCT. 13, 1919.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

BES"'AVALABLE COP C. BIRTH. I

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men OCT.13. 1919.

1,386,758. Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

67/ |||m| 67/ Ir J c? u' .303 08 mlllllllllllll o ll'" AfiORNEY Lewes;

B E VA m EnsTATES' LE COPE PATENT OFFICE.

:BIRTH, OF KIITGSTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ,ASSEGNOR TO WALES ADDING- 'MACHINE COMPANY, J OF WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA; V

"it-knowiifthat L CHARL S BIRTH, a citize'nof the United States, residing} in the borouglror" Kingston, Luierne county, Penn sylvania, hayefinvented new and "useful Improvements Calculating-Machines, of which"the .followingiis a 'specificationi "The invention is v especially directed to i 'accuiniiiatinghmechanisms for calculating inachines';ai1d while designed as an improvement uponfthelmechanism disclosed in the U; S. application of Pentecost and "Fisher filed July l7, 1918;;Seria-l No. 245,273,-is not in its use'to that machine In general, the mainlobject of the invention is to render the. calculating machine more accurate and efiicient, as well as to enable'itto perform its functions more rapidly and positively." 1

These advantages my inyention attains by after-ang na trip memberswhich control the carrying or transferring action, a better hold or gri against the carrying member detents,

; where ytoifediice tominimum, the. possibility of overcarrying, and to eliminate the necessity of. taking an extra or.idle stroke intermediate an adding operation and a totalin'g or clearing operationi avoiding the requirement for taking this extra 'stroke,.time is saved in the operation or the machine, and an economy in paper is effected.

By affording a better contact between the trip members and the carrying member detents, close points are avoided and the machine can be timed to operate at higher speeds, owing .to thereduced liability of the accidental escape of the trip members past their detents.

My invention afii'ords a firm contact between the trip members and the carrying detents, in totaling and clearing operations, whereby to arrest the counters in their zero positions, irrespective of the position of the carrying member detents. r

The invention further includes certain other novel features and combinations of parts, all'of which will .be more fully disclosed hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims. v

In the accompanying .drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional .view through a part of a calculating machine, showing the GALCPLATIEG7MACHINE.

's taaaeol of Letters Patent. P t nt d 9, 192 1 Application filed October 13, 1919. f seriai No. 330,371.

I keyboard or indexing mechanism and the accumulating mechanism, ofvwhich latter my invention forms a part; i V,

' Fig; 2 is an enlargeddetail sideview of the accumulating mechanism, in its normal position of rest; f i I f Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one form of my carrying and total alinement detent, disassembled;

Fig; 4 is an enlarged detail side View, similar to Fig. 2,. showing the positions of the parts at the endfof the forward stroke of the machine, in an adding'operation; and

Fig. 5 is a detail side view of the carrying mechanism alone, showing the positions of the parts at theend of a carrying operation.

Calculating machines of the Wales type, as illustrated in the application of Pentecost and Fisher, filed July 17, 1918, Serial No. 245,273, include a keyboard or selective mechanism and an accumulating mechanism,

The'keyboard comprises a .seriesof depressible numeral keys 117 (Fig. 1) arranged in denominational rows. Individual levers 116 connect the respective keys in each row with the corresponding stops 115 in the respective denominational rows or files of. stops, the upper vends of which extend through the cross plate of a housing 11310 cated at the rearf of the keyboard.

Depressing the numeral keys 117 in accordance with the amount to be registered m the accumulating mechanism, rocks the levers 116 to project the corresponding stops 115 in the respective denominations, farther above the housing 113 and into the paths of rack-positioning bars 310, to variously determine the advance of the latter.

Denominational rack-arresting detents 221 journaled on a cross shaft 202, overlie each denominational file of stops 115, and are displaceable bythe stops. The rack-arresting detents normally oppose their respective positioning. bars 810 to arrest the latter when no keys have been depressed in any of the several denominational rows.

The denominational positioning bars 310 are each pivotallysupported at points 351 and 350 in a substantially horizontal plane, by front arms .312 and rear arms 311 individual to the several positioning bars. The front arms 312 are journaled for independent rocking, on a cross shaft 300, and

and cross? rod 3.01.--.=.".Phe"drive racks 410 lie alongside their respective positioning bars 310, to which they maybeconvenientlysecured; by. meansot a slet and pin1connec-' 4 Restoring d sions. 312 of the, respective front supporting afrms312 thje linksjbeingiforked at their lower ends toeiiihrace ares'training and. re-

storing bar 295;. bythe forward ends OfQa pairo'filevers220 journaled on a cross r'dd"508. A' slotted iilnchorplate 220 secured to the ,restrainingjandrestoring bar fheseriefsfoi restoring pacing fguide for the E srr es fi xiblrs to m. fl ar ns lfi r e-fihr y :idi ance; the .posi tioningbars 3 1Q. and the drivingmemher's 410.,connected thereto.

.il f-a s i sl a .23 .i, .m d a s-c shaft 30Q,.;carry i'blljs ortravelers 340 entered in cam s'lots;2 20 formed in the levers 3Q 3' with cranks on the drive shaft 200 A- '1nainres toripg spring 285 connected tojthe maindriveshaftgm, tends to maintain the shaft iiiilitlsQhOme position. and the m'ain drive shaft', .through cranks 212 and links 21'4,: normally retainsthe swinging radiiis bars 323 at their :rearivard liniit'of travel. gThe travelers 340 of the radius bars 32 areithus held near the rear cnldsof the cam slots 220 inj the levers 220, ii -maintain the levers 220 and the restraining' and restoringjbar 29 i carried thereby. in their elevated@po si tions. The restraining and restoring bar contacts the forked restoringdinks 312%};0 retain the-latter in raised position against the tensions of the positioning bar, drive springs 383 r and through such links, and'the supporting arms 312, the positioningbars 310 and drive members 410 areheld retracted,

Turning the'main drive shaft. 200 forwardlyagainstthe tension of the main drive spring 235, draws the links 214 and radius bars 323 forwardly to. cause the rolls 340 to traverse the cam slots 220" and rock the levers 220 and the restraining and restoring har 29-l downivardly. The anchor plate QQOQ'inoving downwardly 'vcith the restraining and restoring bar 294;. further tensions the drive springs 383 to draw the links 312 do\\ n.v aidly and swing the arms 312, 311 lb'riva'rdly,- 'tli'e'rehy effecting the advance of tPiPQ #63303 f en sb hi eefih rad usjhars, jand links 214 connect the-prod zing detents 221 in those denominations wherein no keys have been depressed. The arrest of any of the positioning bars 310 vvith their co rr lecte d parts. including the 'links" 312,inerely results in further tensioning the corresponding drive springs3S3,-

as the restraining and restoring 'bar 294: moves. relatively to the arrested links 312 in completing its stroke. v 2

At the end of the forward stroke themain drive shaft 200 is released to the action of the restoring spring 285,1.whichreverses. the direction of rotation of' the shat and its cranks 212," toreturn the positioning bars 310 and drive members 410 toftheir home positions. The cranks 212 press. the links 214 backwardly. to swing the radius bars rearwardly. The travelers 340f retrace theirpaths in the cam slots 220" to raise the levers 220,ltogether with therestra-ining and restoring bar 294:. Theilatteripresses against.

the lower ends of thelinks 312.-

force the latter upwardly and retire the positioning bars 310 and drive racks gto theirinormal positionsof rest. i

The .p" rticular machine herein selected to illustrate my invention, includes aplurality of scts of counters which coact with the drive inemhers'410 to accumulate separate lists of amounts, for instance, but I wish to specifically state that the invention is as readily applied to machines having a single set of counters, and shall limit the followdescription as in as practicable, to a machine having a single set of counters.

fFront and rearseries of denominational counters 490. 4-99- 'are indifidualiy journaled for independent rotation on their respectiv a.. I are mounted in the free 01165 of the respee'ix'e oppesedsets ofarms 4H jom'naled on the respecth-e cross rod: t-fI-l. The several series of counters 490 and 490* are arranged adjacent their corresponding drive members 410, and pinions 435, associated to turn \vitheach counter, andarranged above and in the same vertical planes withtheir corresponding dr ve members/110. are adapted to engage with and disengage from their denominational drive members.

Normally. the counters 490, 490 are held in their elevated positions with t eirriinions e135 out of mesh with or disengaged from the drive members 410. as shown in 2.

In an adding operation, the counters 490. for era ile. remain in elevated position. CllSCOHllGUiCd from their drive members during the a liance otthepositioning l ars 310 and drive nie.niber's l1O,"but at "rh e end of such forward stroke, and after the positionsssr avairasre 0G ing bars have completed their advance, the counters 490* drop to 'mesh their pinions 435 with the drive members 410.

The positioning bars 310 and drive members 410, during their retirement to their home position, on the return stroke of the main drive shaft, turn the pinion 435 and counters 490* through angles of rotation corresponding to .thedistances through which the drive members have previously advanced on theforward stroke, to register on the counters, the amount setup on the keyboard. Nearthe .end of the return stroke of the main drive shaft 200, and after the com.- plete retirement of the drive members 410, the counters490 and their pinion 435 disengage from ithedrive members preparatory to the next operation. p

The mechanism whereby the counters 490, 490* and their pinions 435 are supported in idle position above the drive members 410, the means for effecting the engagement and disengagement of the pinions and drive members, andthe means for selecting which set of counters, if any, shallbeeome operative, form nopart of the present invention, and are not shown. For a complete description of convenient means to accomplish these ends, attention is directed to the application of Pentecost and Fisher, Serial No. 245,278, filed .lulyzl'l', 1918.

To prevent accidental-rotation of p the Q0unters490ffwhen the latter are disconnect e d .from thei r drii e members 410, and also to effect the transfer of excess ones fromthe counters-of lower denominations to the counters of next higher denominations, in the vusual process of carrying, it is customary to} provide a combined count-erdetaining and. carrying member for each counter. One form "of such combined counter-detaining and carrying member is illustratedin my U.,.S.. Patent No. 1,318,641, dated October 14, 1919. In the present instance, each carrying member for the respective counters490, 490* comprises a bar (310 or (310" (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) extending 1ongitudinally of the machine and over its respective counter pinion 435, the opposite ends of the bars G10, 610 being slotted to accommodate and slide transversely of the parallel cross rods 600, the bars being pro vided with teeth 610 at thatportion of their lower edges which are directly above their respective pinions 4-35. The pinions, as they disengage-from their drive members 410. engage with the teeth 610 of their carrying and detaining members 610, 610, and are thereby locked against accidental rotation. Springs 680 connected to the forward ends of the several carrying bars 610, 610 and to astationary anchor plate 693, tend to draw the'carrying .and detaining membe s 610, (310 forwardly. to turn their respective counters 490, 490* one step tp add.one

thereon, whenever the amount added to the counter of next lower denomination in the same set of counters, exceeds the capacity of such counter.

This type of transfer mechanism requires the provision of means to releasably l ck the carrying members 610, 610 in set or cocked position against the tensions of the drive springs 680, which means is also utilized to arrest the counters in their zero positions, in clearing, totaling and sub-totaling operations, and my invention relates particularly to the improvement of such means.

Pursuant thereto, and referring to the single set of counters 490*, instead of employing, the former rigid carrying-bar detent, I provide a flexible detent mechanism, whereby I attain the various advantages set forth.

In my invention, the carrying detents each include a detaining element 612 pivotally mounted at one end on the cross rod 600, or on. a hub projecting from one side of a spacing collar 632 (F ig. 3) journaled on the cross rod. The detaining element extends a longside its associatedcarryingj-member 610 and is provided near its free end with a lateral latching lug 612 adapted to overlie the upper edge of the'carrying me ber 610 in front of a shoulder 610 formed on the upper edge thereof. A springfSSl connected to the detaining elementand to its carrying member 610 holds thelatching lug 612 yieldingly in place.

Adjacent the detaining element 612 and parallel therewith is a trigger 612 likewise j ournaled on. the cross rod 600 or on a hub projecting from the opposite face. of the collar 632. A pin 651 carried by the detaining element- 612 projects through an enlarged opening 612 formed. in the trigger 612 and a spring 681 holds the trigger in depressed position with the upper end of the opening in contact with the pin 651. The free end of the trigger 612 carries a combined release lug and abutment 612 ofi'set therefrom and lying at an angle to the latchinglug 612 and in the path of a tripping cam or member 411 associated with the counter 490* of next lower denomination. it

ing members 610 and engaging the drive members 410, and vice versa, and thereby reduce the time during which the counters are uncontrolled and may therefore accidentally turn, the application of Pentecost and Fisher, hereinbefore referred to, shows an arrangement whereby the bodily travel of the counters is shortened to a movement substantially equai in length to the igh; of a tooth oi the pinion pius suflic t clearance to prevent contact of the drive member 410 with the teeth or the pinion when the drive member advances in adding operations, and to prevent contact of the teeth of the pinion with the carrying bar 610, whenthe pinion is in mesh with and rotated byits drive member. As'the depth of tooth of the pinion is much greater than the clearance above mentioned, it is obvious that the lower teeth of the pinioin'when the latter disengages from the carrying member 610? and engages the drive member 410, will enter between the teeth of the drive member prior to the complete disengagement of the upper teeth 'of the pinion from the carrying member, andvice versa.

Obviouslyythe trip cams 411, being connected to turnwith their respective counters 490", aresubject-to this bodily movementof the counters away from and toward the'carrying members-GlOfi-lhelatter being supported by the cross rods 600 against move; ment toward and fror'nthe drive mom bers 410; 9

And'hence thetrip cams 411, in dropping with *their -counters 490 and pinions 435 when the pinions-mesh with thedrive members 410, shift relatively-to the carrying bar detents (312 which normally restrain the carrying members 610 in cocked or set position.

All carryingoperations must be initiated While the counters"490 fare engaged 'with their drive-members 410, at which time they are disengaged from their carrying members 610, but the carrying operations are not completed, until the counters are engaged with their carrying members, at which time they are disengaged from their drive members. v

'A carrying operation once started, may, and often does continue across one or more successively higher denominations of counters, depending upon the amount already registered and the amount added thereto by the "last operation.

Assuming the rotation of a counter 490* of lower denomination from its .9 to its ()position. during an adding operation, and'hence while engaged with its drive member 410. the trip cam or member 411, turning with the counter 490", wipes against the release lugGlQP of the overhanging trigger 612 and forces the latter upwardly, at first, against the tension of its spring only, but later, when the lower edge of the enlarged'opening 612" strikes the pin 651 connecti'ng the trigger 612 with its associated detaining or latching member 612 the cam 411, in addition, lifts the latching member against the tension of its spring 81 and the resistance caused. by the frictional enq, ciuent oi its latching lug 612" and the :rcsscci shoulder old of the carrying i iiscugage the latching lug from t i 'ree the carrying member associated-with the counter of next higher denomination, to theaction of its drive spring 680.

The trip member 411 lifts theiiexible carrying detentuntilthe point of the trip member finally iescapes past'the release lug (312 during the continuation of' the curvilinear travel of the trip member "from its -9 to its 0 position, whereupon the spring "681 restores the latching element (512 until the hitching lug 612 strikes the upper edge of the shouldered portioiro'r' the ca rrying memher 610, on which itridcs during the advance of the carrying member-when adding 1 to the counter of next higher denomination, and during the restoration of the carrying member. Furthermore, it is to be pa r ticularly noted; that the spring 681 depresses the trigger (312 with its -combinedrelease lug and abutment 612- immediately upon the escape of the trip cam 411, until the triggers is arrested by the contact of the upper edge of. the enlarged opening (512" witlrthe pin' To permit the carrying member 610 to completely advance under the influence of its drive spring 680. at this time, would be of no avail, since the counters 490? are as yet out of engagement with the carrying members 610 and in engagement with their drive mem ers 410, and the carry would be lost.

t is necessary, how ver to permit the carrying members 610 a slight advance when their latching lugs 612" are released, to prevent the restoration of the latching lugs to effective position in front of the shoulders (310 upon the escape of the trip cams 411 past the release lugs 612 (Emscquently. a combined carry-resetting and delaying mechanism is proi'ided, suitably operated in relation to the times of engagement and disengagement of the counters 490* with their drive members 410 and their carrying members ($10".

Finch carry-resetting and delaying mechanism, shown more clearly in the abovementioned application of Pentecost and Fisher. may conveniently include a bar 613 mounted on a carrier 690 extending across the machine in front of the for\\'ardly-p1'oiecting ends of the carrying members 610 and supported at its opposite ends by inclined arms 611 journaled on the intermediate shaft- 401.

Zhe depending arms of actuating bell crank ievcrs 611, pivoted on suitably supported studs 6 2, carry laterally-extending thrust ears (352 overhung by the inclined supporting arms (S11 which rest against seer Amnesia Leashes the thriistedrs' These "eerslirfiit the throw ofthe"siippbrtinghrins 611 and carry-resetting bar {313 in onq'direction. Operating I links 6ll ',"'piv otellj' 'coiinected'at their 11pper ends to theirmitiniiigfarinsoi the'bell cranks 611; 'are provided with "closed slots 6113 at their Itiii ie'i'feiidsto emhrace studs in ithecamlotted levers 220.

I 1 of throw farithest from theprofl ec t. 1*": ryijfib fs 6 0 a the e fin be'rii fu id e off-re ositi While thel v'ers' 22d re di'ii 'eliriemheis llmthestiids 250 contect tliel loyierfends liif slots ti'll to draw the opi'athg 611 'do'wnri'irdly and rock the '35 bell '6ll ito sfwingjthe supporting. ai'n'i's-(SIIYzindthej cirifresetting bar 613 reariverdlyltd .the'opposite' end oi'its travel.

The' carry-re's'etting her contacts the. f0i-.

wardends of the carrying nieinbers' 610 to restore tii-set' positionall those which have been discher'ged during the preceding opcration, whereupon the latching lugs 612" offj'the corresponding detents 612? which have ben'ridirigfoifthefshoulders 610 of theirfdischarged czirry ing niembers, drop in front of the fshonlders under the influence of their'spring's' 681": and '681 to lock the carrymg members "in cocked position.

lfthecarry res'etting and delaying memg obi-613 'remain d'at the limit of its resetting tre'nel, 'itii ouldretain the tripped carrying members 610 vin cooked position, and the carryin'g'meinber' detents-612 displaced by the trip member's 411 on the counters 4:90;

iixichor 'plate 693,

to commence the withdrawal of the resetting bar (313 from contact with the front endsof the cocked carryingniembers (310E Such Withdrawztl,however, is arrested after the c:1 rry resetting her has backed away but ashort dismnce, bythe engagement ot'1spri 1g-pressed arresting goers 611 with lugs (il ll'oni the operating links 611", the iforivard e ndslpf the 'erresting bars being providedyith grad} ated shonldersfill (31131 the lowe shortl- (lers 611 lying over thetlngs (311"te p event farther 'githdrajnfal the resetting bar 6L3 atthijs'tin el I 'l ""The' arresting bars t ll retain the any resetting bar 613 in such interinediateposi tion,"z ts the levers QQOfcontinue to rise under infine'noe" of the I radius arms the studs 250 "in the levers 220 idlj traversing thfsldts eii gi'liithe operating "links sir.

lint-il fneztr -the end of the return stroke of the inzii'n Qdrii e sheftfiandfeftertheidiseni gzig'einent of the mmnuaa 'aiid counters 490* from their driye meinberslO, end their i ee e itl their i 'i emht the trip "rod 303 contacts lips (ill jfoii' the spring-pressed arresting bars (ill? re tract the errcsting'harjs and'free theoperat ing links 611 en chctrry -gresetting' 613 to: the action of the restoring spring 685,

whi ch immediately s'n eps' fthe I to idle positioni' t a errist of the flcerry resetting h'ar in' its interinediate position during the retnrn'stroke of themain drive .shai't and the; coincident retirement "of theldrite meni'hers 410 and rotation of the immerse-9Q", perniitsthe ,slig ht advance 01 carry-- ing bars (310 \vhichlnirly have beenreleased by the action of the trip cams 411 during. the rotation of the counters T 9 to 0 position, 'and .holdssuch tri ed carrying members against co -ltin2 their advance, until the counters; 4.118; and inions 1-9-3 have again engaged their carrying members.

Slhll slight advance of the tripped carrying members (316 also enables them to inter posetheir shonlders 610 beneath the latching lugs'G12 oi the tripped detents 612 to prevent the immediate restoration of the detents to .cfi'ectii-e position when the trip ineinhers 11 escape past the release lugs 612 After the engagement of the counters and carrying members, the complete withdrawal of the resetting bar 613 frees the tripped carrying members GlO tQ advance "a suificient distance to add 1 to their corresponding .eonnters;

The carry-resetting bar 'i'emains in such withdrawn or idle position until. near the end of the next forward stroke ofthe main drive shaft, as heretofore explainedf i the ounter 490* Whose associated carry 111g nieniber 610 is tripped, registered 9 be! fore the'operiation of its carrying member; the

on. rryingrnem'ber will turnits counter from its 9 to 0 position While the counter sun e'n" loo BEST AVAllABLE COP gagement therewith and disengaged from its drive member, and the tripping member 4:11 of such actuated counter will, in turn displace the detent (312 appropriated to the carrying member correlated with the counter of next higher denomination, to release its carrying member (516 to the action of its drive spring 680. There being no occasion for delaying the transfer onto such'counter of higher denomination, since the counters are engaged with their carrying members, the last-named carrying member is free to advance its full travel to add 1 to its counter. v i

It will be noted that whereas the'first or initial carry was initiated while the counters were engaged with their drive members and disengaged from their carrying members, the second carry is wholly effected while the counters are engaged with their carrying members and disengaged from their drive members.

Indirect carrying operations wherein the detents are tripped while the counters are engaged with their drive members, the power which actuates the counters and their trip members to displace the spring-pressed detents, is. derived from the main restoring spring 285 and'is quite sufiicient to overcome the resistance of the detent springs 681, (581 plus the friction caused by the pressure of the shoulders 610 of the spring-driven carrying members 610 against the latching lugs 612" of the detents.

In cross-carrying, however, which occurs 'ouly when the counters 490- are engaged with their carrying members 610, the drive spring (580 of the carrying member 10 of lower order must overcome the tension of the detent springs 681, 681! pertaining to the carrying member 610 of next higher order. plus the friction between the dctent and its carrying member, and the friction lattnccn the abrupt ram edge of the trip member 411 on the counter of lower order as it wipes a ainst the releasing lug 612 of the detent of next higher order, it being obvious that the tension of the drive spring for the carry'ng member of lower order is progressively decreasing as it drives its carrying member (310 forwardly to turn its associated a ounter from 5) to .0.

In the Pentecost and Fisher application above referred to, this condition is remedied y. arranging the carrying member springs (38) so as to progressively increase the tension thereof from the highest to the lowest order.

Obviously, the releasing lugs {312 of the rarryinzrmember detents G12 lie farther within the. paths of the trip members 411 when. thecounters 490* are engaged with their carrying. members 610 than when disengaged: therefrom,.and the trio members e11 must be of suflicient length to displa e their detents 612 when the trip members are in their remote positions (engaged with the drive members) as well as when in positions adjacent to the detents, (when engaged with their carrying members).

In both cases, the beveled edges of the trip members 411 wipe along the releasing lugs 612 of the triggers 612 to raise the latter and thlatching members 612 to which they In Itotalihgand clearing operations, the

counters ;49,0";are engaged with their drive members 410 at the beginning of the forward stroke of, the main .driW-Shfl-ft and prior to the advance of thexidrive' members,. instead i of at the end of the drive members, on theiradvance, reverse the direction of rotation of the"counter s,' until the rear edges oi the trip members 4110f the counters contact'the front faces of the releasing lugsf 612, to""'ar1;e st the counters 4. 90;? in;.'z ero'position. I v

the endvofv he .forward stroke fot the main drive shaft, the actuating springs 383 of the drive members press the rear edges of the trip members .lirmly against the front faces of the-releasing lugs 612*,bnthe respective carrying: member detent" triggers... 612% The counters 490* are disengaged from their drive members 410 and relingaged with their .-arrying members (310 at the beginning of the return stroke of the main drive shaft. the rear edges of the trip members sliding transversely along the front faces of the release lugs 612 at which time the tension of the drive member springs 383 is but slightly relaxed. Consequently, the tendency of the drive members 410 on the forward stroke, is to turn the counters 490 past their zero positions and the trip members 411 must have -a firm contact-with the releasing lugs 612 on the detent triggers 612 to prevent such action. I I

In rapid totaling and clearing operations of the machine,.under former constructions, the trip members 411 forcibly contact their detents and there is thepossibility that one or more will either displace their detents entirely, thereby effecting overearries, or will partly displace their detentssufticiently to permit the trip members to escape past the releasing and arresting lugs, in either of which events the counters will not be cleared. I 4

' Heretofore, I have considered merely the e eaqf. the trip memb rs ainst award stroke. a The Best AVAlJiB releasing lugs (312 of the carryingrmember detent triggers 612 when theicountersand their trip members are either adjacent to or remote from their detents, it. being assumed that the detents are in their elie'ctive locking positions, but the situation is further complicated;- by; the fact that the; detents themselvesassume I either of ,two positions, relatively to theltrip members, that is, the detents may be in their effective-positions, wherein the-latching lugs.6l2 '?5-lie in front of the shouldersGlOP of the ,carrying memhers 610, or in their-ineffective positions, to which they have been shiftechso that-their latching lugs 612?- restidly upon the shouls; .1. .zl 1 3 a yi g member, 7 nd thereby holdthe releasing lugs GLQi -farther awayfrom the axis of the trip members 451.

Thus,- after-the trip member llrdisplaces the. (latent, them ying; m b 61 its advance, retains. the ,detent in-displacedor ineflective position, until; thecarryingmemher is again cooked by theresetting ;member 613,. to v permih the spring-pressed detent to restore to effective position-,in "front, ofv the shoulder 6109.01; .its carrying member,v rlhe displacement of the detent may occur at'any time during the retirement ofythe jdrive members, on the return stroke of themaimdrive shaftxin d irect carryingoperations and when 1 ,happens, the; detent remain s;, dis. placedvalntil the carryingfl member is cocked at theendpf; the succeeding-forward stroke, and even though, as in cross-carrying operations-atdetent isfnotdisplaced until the end of the return stroke of the main drive shaft, or the beginning of the-succeeding forward stroke, at which, times the counters 1 are en-* gaged with; their,carryingmembers 610 the detent remains displaced :until its-carrying memberis cocked, immediately. subsequent to .the disengagement of the counters 490% and the carrying members. 610 and their engagement with the drive members' llO, at the end of the forward, stroke of the main drive shaft, i

7 Owing to. the synchronismof operationoii the parts, the discharged carrying members 610- are cocked intermediate each engagement of the counters and ,i-iive members that iii succcssive adding operations, thereis no danger of lost carries through the passage of counters and their trip .members 411 from the 9?? to the O? icsitionwhile the carrying members (310 are discharged. But itisfiequently desired to taken total or clear .the counters immediately after operation during whichlonc or inoreot carrying members havebeen discharged.

jOwing to the lost motiom'however, slight, which is unavoidablein the-manufacture andassembly oi'fmachines in bulk, considerable adjustment of-the detents and .theirreleasing and latching lugs has been required heretofore,,toenabl,e releasing lugs to arrest the trip members in a totaling;- or clearing operation, when the detents are displaced, and the contact between the trip members and release lugs is often so slight that wear taking place between the releasing lugand trip member 4:1]. will permit the release lugs to clear the members when the counters490 arereturning to zero, while in mesh .with their drive members 4:10.. p s I The disadvantages of such wear are not so serious wheretotaling and clearing opera tions are undertaken when the detents are all in their lower effective positions, andfor this reason it has been customary in the past, to provide meansto enforce an idle stroke of the main shaft 200 betweenthe last accumulating operation anda totaling or. clearing operation, to return the carrying members discharged v during the lastaccumulating; stroke,,and thereby enable the displaced detents to return to their lower, efi'ec-tive-positions, at which time, their release lugs 612 lie nearer the trip members 411 when-the latter and the counters'are engaged with the drive members 410., 7 Y 1 i There are'i w'o objections to theidle; stroke, one of which is that the paper is fed on. such stroke, which leaves a blank space between the last amount accumula ted, and the total. Prior to the use -of designatingsigns, this bljank -spac'e served in a; measureito indicate that the following amount wasa total, but with the advent of sign printing to designate tOt&lS,;thlS dubious advantage becameobsolete- The blank-space, while negligible in itself, results, in the aggregate, in a gconsiderable waste-of paper, and by eliminating the necessity for such idlestroke, a saving of paper is eiiected.

. Another objection is the lossofltime caused by the necessity for taking this blank or idle stroke, v

. By the provision of the ficXi-Jle (letent. it will be obvious that as soon as thetrip member 4:11, after tripping the detent, escapes past the release lug (312 the carrying'mcinher (310 having partially advanced until an rested by the carrying-resetting bar- (313,3s0 that the latching lug 612 rides on top of the shoulder,- the spring 681 swings downwardly the trigger. which carries vthe combined rcle'se lug andabutment' 612 until the upper 1d 01 the opening 612 contacts the connectpin 651". Such restoration of the release lug. and abutment'61- is only partial, or in other words, the lug does not restore to the same position which it occupied prior to the displacelnentol'the detent, bat-it is sufficient to bring the release lug and abutment so far within the path of travel of the trip cam lll as to provide al rm contact therefor and prevent it from slipping past, when totaling and clearing operationsare undertaken while anyofi the carrying members 610 are in discharged position I It has been explained how the tripped carrying members 610 advance at the end of an adding operation, and are not reset until the end. of the succeeding forward stroke, immediately after the disengagement of the counters 490* from the carrying members.

their trip cams 411 into mesh with their drive members 410 in a totaling operation, for example, effects the greatest separation between the trip cams and the release lugs 612 on the triggers 612 My flexible trigger takes up a portion of this distance and thus permits a totaling and clearingoperation immediately followin an accumulating operation, and insures a firm contact between the trip earn 411 and the release lug 612 By permitting such procedure, the necessity for an idle stroke is eliminated, and hence the feed of paper is avoided and time is saved.

The elimination of the necessity for taking an idle stroke is of particular value in the multiple counter machine disclosed in the Pentecost and Fisher application abovementioned, equipped with a counter-selecting and a subtracting mechanism, as well as totaling and clearing mechanisms, owing to the fact that the idle stroke-enforcing mechanism became effective in such former device, not only after any accumulating operation of the machine, to prevent totaling and clearing operations immediately subsequent thereto, but also when the adjust-- ment of the counter-selecting mechanism is changed, as well as when the subtracting mechanism is adjusted for operation. My invention willpermit the elimination of the idle stroke-enforcing mechanism from the multiple counter machine.

It has been stated that the counters engage their drive members under two different conditions, namely, at the end of the forward stroke of the main drive shaft, in add ing items, when the drive members have advanced until arrested by the key-set stops; and secondly, in totaling operations, on which the counters engage their drive members at the beginning of the forward stroke, prior to the advance of the drive members.

In the Pentecost and Fisher machine,there is still another condition affecting the engagement of the counters and their drive members, which arises in subtracting operations.

Frequently, a subtracting operation immediately succeeds an adding operation in which one .or more carrying members have BEST AVAiLABLE been discharged. In such subtracting operation, the drive members advance on the forward stroke of the main drive shaft 200, until arrested by the feelers 413 set in their paths, and the active set of counters drops into mesh with the advanced drive members at the end of the forward stroke of the main drive shaft, as in the ordinary adding operation. It may happen that because of slight variations in manufacture, the work man, in adjusting the parts to obtain the proper mesh or engagement of the counter pinions 85 and drive members 410 in adding items and in totaling and clearing op erations, has been forced to so arrange the parts that the feelers will arrest the drive members in such positions relatively to the counter pinions 435, that when the latter dropinto mesh with their drive members, the pinion teeth will strike against the front slopes or faces of the teeth of the drive members 4:10, which, asthe counter pinions 435 settle in place, will turn the active set of counters 490, L? anti-clockwise and press the trip members 411 of those counters which register zeros, against the releasing lugs 612 of the displaced detents.

In rapid operations, this sequence of events occurs almost instantaneously and will result in further displacing the detent to permit the trip member to pass the releasing lug, (unless it has a firm and adequate contact therewith), and render the subtraction incorrect.

My invention is designed to prevent any inaccuracies in subtracting operations due to this cause, because, by the use of the flexible detent construction, the releasing lug 12 of the trigger 612 due to the play afforded by the enlarged opening G12 relatively to the connecting pin G51, automatically adjust-s itself into the path of the trip member 411 to arrest the latter, whether the detent is effective or ineffective.

Changes may be made in the form and arrangement 0f the several parts set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, is

1. In a calculating machine, the combination with a counter of lower denomination; a trip member carried thereby; a counter of next higher denomination; a carrying member therefor; means to drive the carrying member in one direction to turn the counter of higher denomination; and means to restore the carrying member to normal position; the counters adapted to shift from and toward the carrying member; of a flexible detent adapted to lock the carrying member in its restored position, and including a latch member journaled to swing into and out of the path of the carrying member, and a release lug flexibly connected with the latch for relative movement and normally lying ter of next lower denomination.

2. In a calculating machine, the combination with a series of vcarrying members; means todrive the carrying members in one direction; means .to restore .the carrying members in the opposite direction, to cock the'carrying members; a series of rotatable counters shi ftable toward and from the carrying members in a directionatan angle to the direetion of travel of. the carrying members andtrip members carried by the counters oia series 0t inherently flexible detaining means adapted to lock the respective jearrying members in cocked position, and-to automaticallymaintain efi'ective relation -withthe trip members as the latter shiftrwith the counters relatively to the cary ng m rs J In a ,calculatingmachine, the combination; witha series; of carryingv members; means to drivethe carrying members in one direction; means to restore the carrying members in theopposite direction, to cock the carrying, members; a series of rotatable counters shiftable toward and from the carrying ;membersr in-a direction at an angle to .theg-direction of travel of the carrying members;. and trip members carried by the counters; of a series of inherently flexible detaining means adapted to lockthe respective carryingmembers in cocked position, and to automatically; maintain effective relationwith the trip members irrespective of the positions oftheqtrip members and detents relatively-to each other.. r 4:. In a calculating machine, the combination with a carrying member, means to drive the carryingmember; means to restore the carrying member to cocked position; a counter of lower denomination; atrip member mounted to travel therewith; and a counter of next higher denomination with which the carrying member cooperates, the counter and trip member adapted for bodily movement toward and from the carrying member; of a flexible detent, including a latch to releasably engage the. carrying member for the counter of higher denomination, to maintain the-, latter in cocked position, and displaeeable- ;by thetrip member; and ,a combined release and abutment lug shiftable relatively to the latch, to maintain effective relation with :the corresponding trip member irrespective ofthe position of the counter and trip member relatively to the carrying member.

5. In a calculating machine, the combination with a carrying member; means to drive the carrying .member; means restore the carrying member to cocked position; a counter of lower denomination; a trip member mounted to travel therewith; and a counter of next higher denomination with which the carryingrmember cooperates, the counter and trip member adapted for bodily movement toward and from the carrying member; of a latch tovreleasably engage the carrying member for the counter of higher denomination to maintain the latter in cocked p0- sition,'and displaceable by the trip member; and a combined release and counter-arresting lug having a limited movement relatively to the latch to enter the path of the trip member irrespective of the positions of the trip member and latch relatively to each other. I v- 6. In a calculating machine, the combination with a carrying member; means to drive the carrying member; means to restore the carrying member to cocked position; a counter of lower denomination; a trip member mounted to travel therewith; and a counter of next higher denomination with;

which the carrying member cooperates, the counter and trip member adapted for bodily movement toward and from the carrying.

member; of a suitably journaled latch to releasably engage the,carry ing member to maintain the latter in cocked position, and displaceable by the trip member; a suitably journaled release and counter-arresting lug connected to have a limited travel relatively to the latch, to maintain a position in the path of the trip member as the latter shifts with its counter toward and from the carrying member; and a spring to enforce the relationship between the lug and-the trip member. v v V 7 In a calculating machine, the combination with a carrying member; means to drive the carrying member; means to restore the carrying member to cocked position; a counter of lower denomination; a trip member mounted to travel therewith; and a counter of next higher denomination with which the carrying member cooperates, the counter and trip member adapted for bodily movement toward and from the ear rying member; of a latch to releasably engage the carrying member to maintain the latter in cocked position, and displaceable by the trip member; and a shiftable lug having a pin and slot connection with the latch and adapted to maintain effective relationship with the trip member irrespective of the position of the counter relatively to the latch.

8. In a calculating machine, the combination with a carrying member; means to drive the carrying member; means to restore the carrying member to cocked position; a counter of lower denomination; a trip member mounted to travel therewith; and a counter of next higher, denomination with which the carrying member cooperates, the counter and trip member adapted for bodily movement toward and from the car rying member; of a latch to releasably engage the carrying member to maintain the latter in cocked position, and displaceable by the'trip member;a shittable lug having a pin and slot connection with the latch and adapted 'to maintain efiective relationship '5 with the trip member irrespective of the position of the counters relatively to the latch;

and a spring connected to the lug to shift it toward one end ofits' limit of travel relatively to the latch to insure the relationshipbetween-the lug and the trip member.

"9. In a calculating machine, "the combine tion with a series of carrying members;

meansto drivethe members in carrying operations; means to restore the carrying membersf tofeo'cke'd 'posltlon; 2!,"861168 of counters'shiftable from and toward the car ryingmembers"; means to turn thecounters in opposite directions; and trip 'members mounted to"' shift-' and-turn with the counters; of latch'e's to relea'sably maintain the respective carrying members in cocked position,"and displaceable bythe trip memb'ei's';"*andbombined '--latch release" and counter-arresting; member's conne'cted to their respective" latches to have {a limited movement relatively thereto, the combinedrelative-positions of; the counters and '35 counter of higher denomination; a carrying member-thereforjand means to operate the carryinginember; of a'fleXible-detent adapted'to lock the carrying member in-one of its positions," and including a latch shiftable E0 into and out 20f effective position relatively to the carrying'member',"and a release lug connected with the latch for relative move ment, and normallylying in the pathof the trip member of'thecounter of lower denomin'a'tion.

:l1. In a calculating machine,'the combinati'onfwith a series of counters; carrying members therefor, the counters shiftable toward" and. from the carrying members;

' means todrivei the carrying members; means to retire the members to cocked position; means to turn th'e counters in'one direction or the other; and trip members mounted to v shift, and to turn coincide1itly with the counters; of displaceable'latches to releasably engage their respective carrying members to maintain them in cocked position, the latches adapted formovement toward and from the'countcrs, and when displaced,

' adapted to'ride on and'be held displaced, by

the carrying members; and combined re.- lease and counter arresting members connectedfwitlrthe'ir respective latches to have a limitedjmovement relatively thereto, to

155 enable the combined release and counter-arresting members to lie in the paths of their corresponding trip members irrespective of the relative positions of the latches, the counters and the carrying members.

'12. In a calculating machine, the combination with a series of drive members, a series of carrying members adapted for reciprocating movement; a series ott rotatable counters shiftable in a direction at an angle to the direction of 'travelofjthe carrying members, to engage and disengage the carrying members and the counters alternately; and trip members 'shiftable'and rotatable with the counters; of a series of sectional detents to'lock the several carrying members at one end of their travel; means to connect the respective sections of the several detents, for relative 'mo'vement, wherebyto enable one of the sections of each detentto enter the path of its corresponding trip member irrespective"of the positions of the trip members and detents relatively to each otherl""= [13.- In acalculating machine, the combination with a series of drive members; a series of movable carrying members spaced apart from the drive members; a series of counters interposed-between the series of drive members and carrying members, and bodilv shiftable in adirection at an angle to the direction of travel of the carrying members, to engage and disengage the latter, and the drive members; and'tr1p'mem-' bers connected with therespective counters to turn and shift bodily therewith; of detents for theseveral carrying members, the detents each including a latching member to retain the corresponding carrying memher in set p0s1t1on,'- a trigger carrying a re-' lease and counter-arresting lug, and a loose connection between the-triggerand latch; spring to yieldingly hold the latching member effective; and a spring to yieldingly hold the trigger at, and return it to, one limit of its movement relatively to the latch ing member, to maintain the release and counter-arresting lug in the path of the corresponding trip member.

14%. In a calculating machine,'the combination with a series of carrying members; a set of rotatable counters bodily shiftable into and out of engagement with-the carrying members; a trip member'associated with each counter to rotate and shift therewith; and means/to drive the counters; of a detent for each carrying member to relcasably retain it in set position, the detents each including a shiftable latch to restrain the carrying member; a trigger provided with a latch release and counter-arresting lug; and a connection-between the trigger and latch to permit relative movement therebetween, whereby to enable the latch release and counter-arrestinglug to lie in the path of its corresponding trip member irrespecgears/"Almeria so? 10 trip members traveling with the counters;

of a series of flexible detainers displaceable by the trip members, and normally effective to lock the respective carrying members in cocked position; and to automatically maintain effective relationship With the trip members irrespective of the position of the latter relatively to the carrying members, and irrespective of the positions of the cletainers rel- 2c ativel to the carryin members.

(1 ARLES BIRTH. 

